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ABC News
ABC News
National
state political reporter Richard Willingham

Liberal Party legal counsel quits as concerns raised over postal vote application forms

The Victorian Liberal Party's campaign has been thrown into turmoil following the resignation of the party's in-house legal counsel, just 33 days before Victorians can begin to vote.

The state's electoral commission has also confirmed it is making inquiries following complaints Liberal MPs have sent out postal voting application forms to constituents.

Parties are prohibited from sending out certain types of forms to voters under recent law changes.

The Liberal Party's internal ructions threaten to overshadow several days of positive policy announcements from the Coalition on cheaper public transport fares.

On Tuesday, Chandra Lloyd quit as the secretariat's legal counsel after raising concerns about the operation of the party's secretariat, which runs the campaign.

In her letter of resignation to party president Greg Mirabella, Ms Lloyd said some of the operations she raised concerns over had "resulted in regulatory investigations that may be considered criminal in nature".

Ms Lloyd raised the concerns last Friday and resigned after no action was taken.

There is concern among some Liberals about the Victorian Electoral Commission's probes into donation schemes run by the Liberal Party.

Postal voting forms cause concern within Liberal party

This election is the first time new laws are in effect which prohibit anyone other than the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) from distributing postal vote applications, except for general postal voters.

Unlike Victorians who apply for a one-off postal vote, general postal voters cannot go to a polling centre and are automatically mailed a ballot pack for every election in their area.

The ABC has seen pre-filled application forms sent to voters from Liberal MPs.

The VEC confirmed it was "looking into reports" that some voters had received letters from candidates in the upcoming state election with applications to become a "general postal voter".

But it clarified that third parties were able to send general postal voter applications.

Some in the Liberal Party said they were acting under advice from parliament which allowed MPs to send general postal voter applications.

Shadow Health Minister Georgie Crozier told the reporters on Wednesday morning she had sent out postal voting forms.

"There is a number of candidates that have sent that out. I don't know how many. That is a matter for the secretary,'' Ms Crozier said.

Matthew Guy holds '100 per cent faith' in state director

Multiple Liberal MPs and party members have told the ABC about concerns with the operation of the party's campaign.

Some have described the secretariat as "a shitshow" and "chaotic" and have been unhappy with state director Sam McQuestin's leadership.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said he had "100 per cent faith" in Mr McQuestin and vehemently denied any illegality in his party’s campaign activities.

“I have absolute faith that nothing our secretariat would do, nothing they would be doing would be there to break any laws,” he said.

"The concept that they would deliberately go out and create a scheme — which the Labor party did — is not the case.

“There is nothing wrong or illegal about sending out a postal vote application, absolutely not.”

Recent party departures similar to 'any other workplace'

Mr Guy also downplayed the impact of resignations from the Liberal Party, comparing the turnover to that of a newsroom.

In August, Mr Guy's then-chief of staff Mitch Catlin resigned, after reportedly asking a party donor to make a payment to his private marketing business.

Shortly after Mr Guy appointed Nick McGowan, who was best man at his wedding, as new chief of staff, communications director Lee Anderson resigned for "personal reasons".

"Five out of 60 in what, four months?" Mr Guy said.

"Forgive me for being a little cynical but I don't think the attrition or supposed mass attrition is anything different to any other workplace."

In a statement, Mr McQuestin said professional differences were not unusual during a campaign.

"While I respect Ms Lloyd, I disagree with the characterisation of events,'' Mr McQuestin said.

"The Liberal Party takes its responsibilities under all the relevant legislation seriously, and acts accordingly."

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